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Prep for the arrival of a baby, whether the first or a subsequent one, with these easy freezer meals for new moms and dads. These are great to stock your own freezer, or to send to a friend or family member to make for you!
Freezer Meals for New Moms and Dads
Preparing for the arrival of a new little one is so emotional in so many different ways—and being somewhat prepared for life after baby comes home can be so helpful. And while you can’t ever really prepare for the sleepless nights and hormonal rollercoaster (or the overwhelming sweetness of the newborn phase), you can get a few meals ready and waiting in the freezer!
This post contains all of my favorite easy meals to make-ahead and freeze. They can be shared with a toddler or big kid if you have an older sibling at home too!
Savory Muffins to Freeze Ahead
These muffins are easy to make, have a nice dose of veggies, and freeze and thaw really well. I like to thaw frozen muffins overnight in the fridge or more quickly at room temperature, and heat in 15 second increments in the fridge. I love these as a parent since they are nutritious, but also easy to eat with one hand.
TIP: Add a side of fruit (or applesauce) and call it an easy meal!
Soups, Stews, and Sauces to Freeze Ahead
Veggie packed and easy to make, these make-ahead soups, stews, and sauces make pulling together meals easy in future weeks and months.
TIP: I like to freeze soups and sauces like these in quart-size freezer containers, which is a nice portion size for my family of four. Use smaller or larger containers as needed.
Sweet Muffins to Freeze Ahead
Muffins are perfect for easy breakfasts and snacks, or as a side for a dinner. Each of these is packed with nutrients and is a simple meal for a parent or older sibling.
TIP: See all of my healthy muffins here. They can all be frozen!
Meatballs to Stash in the Freezer
Meatballs, which I love over salads, grain bowls, pasta, in sandwiches, or in broth, are one of my favorite meal components to make ahead and freeze in almost any phase of life, but especially the postpartum phase.
TIP: You can simmer frozen meatballs in pasta sauce or broth to thaw, or thaw overnight in the fridge and warm in short 15-30 second increments in the microwave.
Grains and Beans to Make-Ahead and Freeze
Grains like rice and quinoa, and beans are staples in what I feed my family so I always batch-cook them and freeze them for future meals. This is great for post baby since you can pull them out and put together super simple, yet nourishing meals.
Best Snacks to Make Ahead and Freeze
These are some of my go-to healthy snacks to make ahead and stash for later for both myself and to (sometimes, ha!) share with older kids.
The easiest meals to freezer after having a baby are any leftovers that you can freeze in meal-size portions so you can pull one out and have a meal for yourself (or an older child) ready to go. You can also freeze meals that people drop off including chili, stews, soups, muffins, and some meats like meatballs and shredded meat.
Any and all! In all seriousness though, a meal that’s satisfying, easy to reheat, and has components to feed the rest of her family as needed are perfect. My favorite meals to drop off are soup with muffins and fruit, Pizza Rolls with salad and dressing, or Cheesy Meat Buns with fruit.
Fresh veggies don’t freeze well if you want to eat them fresh, and sometimes dairy-based foods can separate.
Anytime in the third trimester is a perfect time to make freezer meals. Just watch yourself if you get super excited about doing it—make a variety to ensure you’ll actually eat what you make, rather than making a ton of one specific type of recipe!
Best Tips for Freezer Meals
Here are some of my best tips for freezer meals to enjoy once baby is here.
- Let any food you plan to freeze cool fully first.
- Store in containers meant for the freezer including freezer storage containers and freezer zip top bags.
- Remove as much air as possible to reduce the chances of freezer burn.
- Label and date all food so you know what it is.
- If you freeze food that someone dropped off to you, be sure to label it with reheating info so you remember what it is and how to prepare it.
- Think through whether you’ll want a large portion of a food or if you would rather have smaller portions to grab individual meals for yourself.
- Freeze some foods for older siblings so you have snacks and meal components ready to go.
- Freeze any of the foods in this post for 3-6 months.
- Send recipe links to friends or family to cook for you!
I’d love to hear your favorite freezer meals, so please comment below to share!
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